**UPDATE** I’m making an A.T. photo book! You can view and purchase it here.

You’re looking at the majestic Mt. Katahdin, I hiked for more than 5 months, through 14 states and over 2000 miles to get to this beautiful mountain and it was worth every step. My brain is scattered with so many thoughts and emotions from this great adventure that I really don’t know where to begin. This one is going to take a long time to digest. Thanks to all my new friends I met along the way and to the many people who provided the random acts of kindness (trail magic) on such a regular basis. Hiking the Appalachian Trail has renewed my thirst for travel and seeking out new experiences, I can’t wait to see where I end up next.

‘Lodestone’

Page Pond

‘Rocky’ and ‘Playboy’

View from Gentian Pond Shelter.

This ladder did not help with my fear of heights.

I’m sure this is the work of a beaver, but I have seen hikers this hungry.

‘Cheese’, named for her camera ready smile not the food.

‘Little Brown’

‘Corn Patch’

‘Papa Smurf’ chatting with David at Pine Ellis.

‘Stambler’

Roots and rocks, that’s Maine.

‘Dirt Road Dave’

On a board walk through a bog.

‘Dessert First’

‘Hobbit AT 85’

‘Backgammon’ and ‘Fields’

2000 miles down, 178 to go.

An odd place to find a white blaze.

Crossing the Kennebec river by canoe is the official way to stay on the Appalachian Trail.

‘#1 Son’ and ’96’

‘Black and Tan’ taking a break at one of the many waterfalls in Maine.

Sneaking a view from an old fire tower.

Lunch break.

This is what your legs look like after you fall in a bog. I think ‘Snow White’ is still laughing at me. The smell was horrible.

After a short trip home to photograph Chris and Steph’s wedding (see post below), I quickly found myself back on the trail and ready to hike. I was about to entire the White Mountains, we’ve been talking and hearing about them since starting the trail over 4 months ago. The trail for much of the Whites is above tree line, making it the most challenging part of the trail, but also the most beautiful. I was feeling great, my feet enjoyed the 5 days off and I was motivated to try and catch up to a few friends. True to my trail name (Rooster) I was up at the crack of dawn every day and usually on the trail between 5:30 – 6:30am. I hiked some hard, long days but it was all worth while when I walked up on Snow White, Roaring Lion and Pine Monkey and saw the look of shock on their faces. I had given them a 5 day head start out of Hanover, NH and caught them in just 6 days. We stayed at Madison Springs that night, my first and only hut in the White Mountains. It was an incredible week, probably my favourite so far.

Sunset from a fire tower.

Moon Pie and Duzy cooking dinner by the fire.

Bard, trying to stay warm.

I find Rocker funny, Hot Lips is not so sure.

We often make arrows out of branches when the trail isn’t so obvious to follow.

Turtleback climbing up Mt. Moosilauke

Turtleback

It’s crazy steep going down the back side of Moosilauke, so they have to bolt steps straight into the rock at certain points.

Early start at Kinsman Notch.

Kinsman Pond.

View from my hammock at Liberty Spring campsite.

My neighbors at Liberty Spring campsite.

Early morning view on my way to Mt. Lafayette.

Starring at the trail to Mt. Lafayette.

Headed to Mt. Garfield.

Looking back at Mt. Lafayette.

Athos.

Caught up to Gadget, who I last saw in Damascus, VA over 3 months ago!

The Cog Railway takes tourists to the top of Mt. Washington.

Happy to be on the other side of Mt. Washington and away from the crazy crowds.

I was the 40th thru hiker to sign in at the ATC headquarters this year.

Sweeper

First day of their flip flop, so they didn’t have trail names!

My friend Debbie lives near the trail in PA, so she decided to come check out the trail for an afternoon.

Half way, well the marker from last year anyway.

It’s hiker tradition to eat a half gallon of ice cream at the half way mark.

Rocker made a good effort, but failed like the others!

That ice cream never stood a chance.

Snow White and 40oz

Bob, cleaning up the trail.

Dutch, 40oz, and Rocker enjoying a beer at the Doyle Hotel.

Miss Vickie knows all.

Miss Vickie and Pat

Almost There, Bowdin and Kayleigh.

40oz enjoying a book on our day off at the Doyle.

Gaucha and Sweetie.

Tink getting some advice from the “worlds greatest hiker” Dutch.

Yes, the rocks in PA are really that bad.

Shadowfax chillin’ at the 501 Shelter.

The Pinnacle.

Knifes Edge.

Blue Bird

Earl Grey

Pair #2, done.

I chose not to swim in this beautiful lake.

Wazi

Moon Pie and Duzy

A little (actually a lot) of trail magic provided by our new friend Bunyun.

Roaring Lion and Bunyun enjoying a cigar and whiskey by the camp fire.

Snow White will hang anywhere.

The shoes Bunyan summited in last year.

Mouse

Wandered into Unionville, NY on Memorial Day and was greated by a parade.

This wonderful family invited Roaring Lion, Mouse and myself to their Memorial Day BBQ.

Bill, preparing dinner at The Mayor’s House

Jaba

Building a new privy.

Boardwalk through the swamp.

Heading north.

Mountain Laurel.

Lil’ Buddha

Actuary

Water break.

A much deserved swim.

Snow White and Cool Tool.

Snow White, lost in her own thoughts.

Switchback enjoying some dinner.

Snow White was making me so nervous!

Now you know why I was so nervous! Snow White falls at least once a day.

Dusting off.

Red Tail and Freedumb.

Maria, a wonderful lady who opens her home to hikers.

Someone decided to stick an old tub over a beautiful natural spring.

Out for a quick paddle on Upper Goose Pond.

One of my favourite photos ever taken of me, compliments of Snow White.

Beans

Usually we have to dodge traffic and run across the highway, but this one they built a nice bridge.

Cookie Monster

Grocery shopping with our packs is a pain and gets us a lot of strange looks.

Gandalf and Shadowfax

Walkway in Vermont

Switchback trying to get a view from the fire tower.

Compliments of “Vermud”

Self portrait with her trusty Stick Pik.

A bridge was torn down and we decided not to take the 3 mile detour.

A missing bridge means rock hopping or wading through the water.

Grabbing some water from a very cool water source.

On top of “The Lookout” cabin.

How we find our way.

Hit & Miss, the first south bounders of the year.

Short n’ Sweet (along with her husband Greybeard) provide trail magic to hikers everyday. They also were kind enough to host Snow White and myself for a night. We were treated to showers, laundry and an amazing pesto pasta dinner!